Parks May Team Up With Hospital

August 01, 1994|By Shirley Siluk Gregory.

Bolingbrook — The Bolingbrook Park District is considering a partnership with an area hospital that would use part of the district's soon-to-be-built recreation center for physical therapy and rehabilitation.

The district this week plans to send out requests for proposals from six hospitals with services in the Bolingbrook area. Hospitals that respond will have to describe the types of services they would provide and the amount of space they would need in the new park facility.

Construction on the $13.5 million recreation center is expected to start next spring. The facility, to be located on Lily Cache Lane near Plainfield Drive, will include two indoor gyms, a fitness center, two indoor pools and an outdoor pool. It is expected to be completed by September 1996.

Park District director Ray Ochromowicz said any partnership with a hospital probably would require additional space in the recreation center. By entering into discussions with a potential partner now, he said, the district could revise its plans for the new building before construction begins. The hospital would pay for any space added, he said.

In addition to paying for part of the recreation center, a hospital partnership would provide certified medical staffing at the center at all times, he said. It also could bring in additional users for the Park District-patients who participate in therapy at the new center probably would continue using the facility after their treatment is completed, he said.